Accommodations for a Student Who Has Difficulty Reading

List of needs and solutions

Accommodations in Instructional Methods and Materials

• Provide overview of learning outcomes and content at beginning of lesson.
• Give student list of important vocabulary used in lesson.
• Have learning buddy or teaching assistant read material aloud.
• Provide audio book or large print version of texts.
• Show same information in a video or movie.
• Let student use text-to-speech software.
• Color-code or highlight key words in math word problems.
• Use book written on lower reading level to focus on main ideas.

Accommodations in Assignments and Assessments

Instructions

• Combine written directions with pictures and diagrams.
• Read written directions aloud before starting assignment; simplify language; number each step.
• Give instructions with steps in picture sequences.
• Provide study guide for student to follow during independent reading.
• Key class notes to relevant text pages.
• Prepare summary with blanks or questions for students to complete.

Organizing

• Arrange items on worksheets and tests so it's easy to know where to start and how to proceed.
• Use clear formatting for handouts, assignments, and tests.
• Let student keep one copy of school materials in class and another at home for additional practice.

Support

• Let student sit near aide, volunteer or trained classmate who can help maintain attention and understanding.

Technology

• Let student use reading assistance software and/or reading pen.
• Use summary feature of word processing software to cognitively rescale text.
• Scan worksheets or text to use with reading assistance software.

Monitoring

• Have student paraphrase instructions to show understanding.

Classroom Tests

• Provide practice with test format, sample questions, and scoring rubric.
• Read test instructions aloud to student and simplify language.
• Read test items aloud to student, except on tests of reading skills.
• Let student read items aloud while working on assignment or test.
• Use symbols, such as arrow or stop sign, on test or answer form to help student follow directions.
• Require fewer questions, but select items that measure all required content and skills.
• Reread and explain directions during test.
• Underline or highlight important words in directions or test items.

FCAT

• Read aloud or use text-to-speech technology to communicate test directions, but not passages or questions on reading test.
• Repeat, summarize, or clarify test directions.
• Use signed or oral presentation of topic (prompt) in writing test and all math and science items.
• Highlight key words and phrases in directions, questions, and passages.
• Use symbols, such as arrow or stop sign, on test or answer form to help student follow directions.
• Maintain or enhance visual attention with pointer, template, blank card, or positioning tools.
• Use colored transparencies or overlays to increase contrast between background and text.

List of needs and solutions